The Democratic Alliance welcomed Monday night’s announcement by National Treasury on the South African Airways (SAA) Airbus swap agreement‚ but said “the elephant in the room however remains”.
That elephant‚ said the party’s Natasha Mazzone‚ is SAA board chairperson “Dudu Myeni’s politics”.
She said Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s decision to stick to his predecessor Nhlanhla Nene’s plan from July to lease five A330-300 instead of purchasing 10 A320 aircraft “has sent Myeni crash-landing to the hard ground of reality”.
Nene was controversially fired by President Jacob Zuma for what was widely reported as his opposition to Myeni’s purchase plan which would have put the airline in an even more perilous financial situation than it is currently.
“The deal approved by Gordhan tonight gives SAA the financial respite it so desperately needs and also alleviates the continued drain on the national fiscus that SAA has become‚” said Mazzone.
“There can surely no longer be any element of doubt that under the leadership of Dudu Myeni‚ the national carrier will not succeed in turning itself into a successful entity.
“Two different (but not successive) finance ministers have both found her suggested swap to be a dangerous choice for the airline and for South Africa’s fiscus and under Myeni’s watch the airline has found itself financially depleted and begging for Treasury handouts.”
Miyeni apparently wanted SAA to buy the A330s.
The DA called for Miyeni’s immediate removal as SAA chairperson‚ saying “her close ties to President Zuma‚ and her political manouvering‚ and her design of fronting local companies for aircraft purchase agreements disqualify her from overseeing our national frag-carrier”.
The party also said it “a full investigation into the financial chaos at the airline…and those who acted together with Myeni to hamper the turnaround of the airline must also be fired”.
“Tonight Gordhan has made a welcome decision‚ which shows that Dudu Myeni must go.”
DA: Gordhan’s decision shows that Myeni must go
That elephant‚ said the party’s Natasha Mazzone‚ is SAA board chairperson “Dudu Myeni’s politics”.
She said Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s decision to stick to his predecessor Nhlanhla Nene’s plan from July to lease five A330-300 instead of purchasing 10 A320 aircraft “has sent Myeni crash-landing to the hard ground of reality”.
Nene was controversially fired by President Jacob Zuma for what was widely reported as his opposition to Myeni’s purchase plan which would have put the airline in an even more perilous financial situation than it is currently.
“The deal approved by Gordhan tonight gives SAA the financial respite it so desperately needs and also alleviates the continued drain on the national fiscus that SAA has become‚” said Mazzone.
“There can surely no longer be any element of doubt that under the leadership of Dudu Myeni‚ the national carrier will not succeed in turning itself into a successful entity.
“Two different (but not successive) finance ministers have both found her suggested swap to be a dangerous choice for the airline and for South Africa’s fiscus and under Myeni’s watch the airline has found itself financially depleted and begging for Treasury handouts.”
Miyeni apparently wanted SAA to buy the A330s.
The DA called for Miyeni’s immediate removal as SAA chairperson‚ saying “her close ties to President Zuma‚ and her political manouvering‚ and her design of fronting local companies for aircraft purchase agreements disqualify her from overseeing our national frag-carrier”.
The party also said it “a full investigation into the financial chaos at the airline…and those who acted together with Myeni to hamper the turnaround of the airline must also be fired”.
“Tonight Gordhan has made a welcome decision‚ which shows that Dudu Myeni must go.”
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